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A senior apprenticeship manager at London Ambulance Service (LAS) has received a prestigious Mayor of London award for his work in developing accessible training routes into healthcare careers for people across the capital.
Darren Avery, Strategic Workforce Development Manager at LAS, was presented with the Inspirational Professional in Adult Education Award during a ceremony at City Hall in Newham on 13 November. The accolade recognises individuals who have gone above and beyond to support learners and drive high-quality adult education in London.
Avery leads the service’s Inclusive Response apprenticeship programme, which helps Londoners from diverse and often disadvantaged backgrounds gain the skills and confidence needed to become paramedics. The initiative has been central to the organisation’s wider effort to build a workforce that better reflects the communities it serves.
Speaking after the ceremony, Avery said he was “honoured” to receive the award and highlighted the impact of seeing trainees progress into frontline roles. “My proudest moment is seeing someone who was unemployed get offered a role at London Ambulance and watching them succeed,” he said. “Seeing an apprentice leave our education centre in their green uniform and epaulettes ready to care for Londoners is something I never forget.”
More than 2,500 apprentices have joined LAS to date, with significant representation from minority ethnic groups, care leavers and disabled people. The service has also trained over 350 paramedics through its apprenticeship route, achieving a 90% completion rate, with most graduates attaining distinctions.
LAS Chief People Officer Simon Steward said Avery had played a pivotal role in widening access to healthcare careers. “Darren has worked incredibly hard to make healthcare careers accessible to everyone, especially to those who previously felt that they haven’t been represented in the ambulance service,” he said. “He has dedicated himself to building inclusive, structured pathways that remove barriers and support adults at all stages of life.”
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